Pre Board Examination (2014-2015)

Subject: English (core)

Class XII

Time: 3 Hrs. M.M: 100

General Instructions:

(i) This paper is divided into three sections: A, B and C. All the Sections are compulsory.
(ii) Answers should be to the point. Do not exceed the prescribed word limit.
(iii) Separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary.
Read these instructions carefully and follow them.

SECTION –A (Marks : 30)

(READING)
1. Read the passage and answer the questions that follow : 12 marks
1. Which world famous monument is situated on Marsuki Miyazaki Marg? Taj Mahal,
answers an enthusiastic participant on Kunal Savarkar s quiz show. Well, this was an easy
guess as there was tell-tale clue in the question. Marg is an Indian tem and Taj Mahal is
the monument that people across the world identify India wih, explains Savarkar.
2. Director of Xpress Minds Edutainment and Quiz Craft, Savarkar believes that every quiz
contest should have some interesting take-always for the participants. This can be as
simple as learning about a new technique or filtering wrong options in a multiple choice
question or learning about a completely unknown fact about one a city or immediate
environment, he elaborates.
3. Sharing some tips, the quiz-master adds, The participants and audience should be able to
identify with the questions. So it makes sense to have a few questions that are specific to
the country or city in which the quiz is being conducted. And these questions become
interesting if they go beyond obvious facts. For instance, one of the questions in a quiz
that I conducted to mark the 375th Anniversary of Madras city was: Who is missing in
this list of siblings-Chandrika Tandon,………………………………….. and Narayan
Krishnamurthy? I asked the audience to fill in the blank with the name of a famous
daughter or the city. The answer, cracked by most members of the diverse audience, was
Indira Nooyi, CEO of PappsiCo!
4. The choice of words in a question can make it interesting or boring. For instance: Which
evergreen actor is first film was the 1946 release Hum Ek Hain? is a typical example of an
interesting question. The answer is easy of those who spotted the word evergreen – who
else but Dev Anand!
5. A visionary in his own right, Savarkar feels that participating in a quiz contest sharpens
ones analytical skills and the ability to make logical deductions and inferences. Savarkar
conducts quiz workshops which coach people on critical decision-making skills. In today s
world all are facing an overwhelming load of information. The challenge is to filter this

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 everyday maze of information into clear categories like permanent (landmark) and
temporary (transient) or relevant and irrelevant. My workshops help people overcome
this challenge.
6. Savarkar has hosted some of India s leading quiz shows including the Indian National
Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage quiz and Sawal Dilli Ka. He is now conducting the
prestigious ten-city Sweden India Nobel Memorial Quiz series for collage studetns,
organized by the Embassy of Sweden Savarkar, who has conducted over a thousand
quizzes in the course of the last fifteen years, is the only quiz-master to have conducted a
quiz show at the National Defence Academy (NDA). –from Hindustan Times
I. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences each :
a) When do the participants and audience in a quiz show identify themselves with
the questions? 1
b) What makes Savarkar been conducting quiz –master? 1
c) How long has Savarkar been conducting quiz shows? 1
d) My workshops help people overcome this challenge (para 5)
What does this refer to? 1
e) What makes the question Which world……………….Miyazaki Marg? (Para1) an easy
question? 1
f) According to Savarkar, what is an important ingredient of a quiz show? 1
II. Answer the following questions by selecting the most appropriate option from the
given ones:
a) The ………………………..makes a question interesting for the participants and
audience of a quiz show. 1
(i) Active participation of Savarkar
(ii) Choice of words
(iii) Ability of draw inferences
(iv) Ability to make logical deductions
b) …………………………… makes it easy to answer a question. 1
(i) Tell-tale clue
(ii) Sharing some tips
(iii) Filtering wrong options
(iv) Learning about a completely unknown fact
c) Participation in a quiz contest sharpens the …………………. 1
(i) Ability to frame good questions
(ii) Vision of a person
(iii) Ability to make logical deduction
(iv) Interesting abilities
III. Find the word/phrase in the passage which means the same as : 2
(a) Brothers or sisters
(b) Saw or noticed a fact
2. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow : 10 marks

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1. A School boy named PUGLOO wakes up one morning and finds that a circus troupe has
pitched tent in front of his house. It is summer vacations and Pugloo has planned to sleep
late every morning. But the loud music played at the circus keeps him awake till late at
night and the loud noise of rehearsals awalens him at dawn. Pugloo has been taught
about freedom of speech and expression in school. He has understood it to mean that he
cannot object to the noise of the circus. He is quite upset.
2. In a new comic series created by Ahmedabad based laywer sister—Kelly 27 and Kanan,
Pugloo learns fundamental rights and fundamental duties. Law and legal cases are so
hard for the general public to understand. We thought a graphic book series would help
children become familiar, at least with the basics, say the two sisters. Kelly, an Oxford
University student, and Kanan, a graduate of London School of Economics, named their
comic series LAWTOONS and put it up on a crowd-funding website for donations. In June
this year, after a nail-biting wait of three months, they reached their target of Rs.
2,75,000/- . The first volume in the series is now set for release soon.
3. With a comic series, the sisters realised that they could take some of the basic knowledge
about law to a wider audience. First they created a ten-page prototype which they tested
on two municipal and three private schools in Ahmedabad over six months. A total of two
hundred students from the five schools is attended sessions and the results were positive.
Students identified with the character Pugloo and seemed excited to learn about the law,
says Krishma Panchal, an acitivist associated with the testing of Lawtoons.
4. In order to make the comic series effective and interesting, a group of legal experts and
animation and design specialists helped structure the stories and their depiction. This
team included Sekhar Mukherjee, head of animation film design at the National Institute
of Design (NID). Ahmedabad and Margie Sastry, writer and former associate editor and
Amar Chitra Katha. The law is complicated, even for professional lawyers sometimes.
Lawtoons helps make it easier and more fun for children to understand basics at a very
young age, says Bhadrish Raju, who is now working to have Lawtoons introduced as
reading material at juvenile homes.
5. This is the best time to experiment with this form (using comic series) even for a serious
subject like law, because youngsters these days are glued to visual media, comments
Margie Sastry. A part of the work on the second valume which explain basic laws, legal
clauses and laws relating to children, the environment and women s issues, has also
begun.
--Adapted from original story published in Hindustan Times
I. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences each:
a) Why were the legal experts and animation specialists involved in the production of
Lawtoons? 1
b) To educate children about law, comic series are an effective tool these days.
Why? 1
c) What does the first volulme of Lawtoons aim at? 1
d) Would you love to watch Lawtoons ? Why/Why not? 1

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 e) What is the content of the second volume of Lawtoons? 1
f) Though Pugloo feels disturbed by the circus troups, he does not complain. Why? 1
II. Answer the following questions by selecting the most appropriate option from the
given ones:
(a) Money to produce Lawtoons has been arranged through …………………… 1
(i) Government
(ii) Donations by Kelly and Kanan
(iii) Donations by public
(iv) All of the above
(b) Pugloo is a …………………….
(i) School-going boy in Ahmedabad
(ii) Member of the team associated with Lawtoons production
(iii) Law expert
(iv) Leading character in comic series produced by Kelly and Kanan
III. Find the words/phrases in the passage which means the same as the following:2
(a) Something which makes us feel excited or worried
(b) Showing an image of somebody/something in a picture
3. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow : 8 marks
1. It is hard to think of an Indain snack that is not fried. However, we need to be aware of
what happens to oil when it is heated. When oil begins to smoke, it is a good indicator
that it has been heated too much. At this temperature, chemical changes begin to take
place, which have many health risks. Of course, this tricky. It the oil is not hot enough,
then more of it is absorbed, and the resultant product is quite soggy and unfit to eat.
2. Further, prolonged heating of oil at high temperature, i.e. at its smoking point, leads to it
degradation. A substance called acrolien is formed which can irritate the stomach linning.
Oil that has decomposed to acrolien to dark ans viscous. Normally this does not happen
when food is fried at home. But as oil is expensive we are not willing to put it down the
drain after having used it only once. The common tendency is to set aside any oil that is
left over to use another time. And repeated use of the same oil guarantees the formation
of acrolien with all its undesirable effects.
3. In fact, some experts suggest that oil should not be held at its smoking temperature for
more than 15 minutes at a time. This time span, as everyone knows, is hardly sufficient to
prepare poor is for even a small family of four. Sadly, olive and corn oils are not widely
available in our markets. Both these oils can be heated to higher temperatures before
they start smoking.
4. Even heart-friendly oils, like those made from sunflower are also not spared from these
affects. Another problem arises when oil is stored under less than satisfactory conditions.
If the oil is not stored in an airtight container which, additionally, allows light to pass
through, then it will deteriorate further because of the effect of oxygen and light on oil.
5. By and large, these undesirable effects result when food is deep fried. So, eat deep fried
food occasionally. This does not mean we can no longer enjoy the flavour and palatability

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 of fried foods. Some food like tikkis land themselves to both deep and shallow frying.
Since every batch of frying requires fresh oil, there is no problem of left over oil.
6. The practice of heating small amounts of mustard, black grams chillies and the like in a
little oil, before they are added to vegetables and curries, is called tempering. Tempering
is not meant solely for flavour but has a nutritional benefit as well.
a) On the basis of your reading of the above passage, make notes on it. Supply an
appropriate little to it. 5
b) Write a summary of the above passage in not more than 80 words using the notes
made. 3

SECTION –B (30 MARKS)

(ADVANCED WRITING SKILLS)

4. You are Zeent/Rehan living at 17, Kamlesh Market, Shimla. You plan to sell some household
furniture as you shifting to a far off place. Draft an advertisement in 50 words for the
classified columns of a newspaper. Give necessary details of the furniture. 4

OR

On the occasion of the World Reading Day, your school is organizing a talk on advantages of
reading by a well-known educationist. Write a notice for the school notice-board inviting the
student to participate. You are Amita/Amit, the Secretary of the School Reading Club.

5. You are Librarian of Vasudha Public School, Golden Enclave, Delhi. Your School plans to buy
books for the school library. Write a letter of enquiry to M/s Rama Publications, Hargovind
Road, Delhi, asking for the latest catalogue, price list and details of discount on bulk
purchase.

OR

Inpite of 24 x 7 police security and well lit roads, women in metro cities do not feel safe.
Several factores like mindset of people, disregard for the law of the land etc. are responsible
for the ulncivil-situation. Write a letter of the Editor of the Hindustan Times expressing your
concern and suggesting how cities can be made safe for women.

6. Craze for carry I-pods or chatting on smart phones is catching on. Youngsters keep
themselves hooked to various devices even while walking or riding bikes. Sometimes this
practice proves fatal for them or other road users. Write an article in 150-200 words to
spread awareness on this dangerous trend. You are Mukt/Mukta of XII B. 10

OR

Science and technology has given man immense power. Intoxicated by this power, man has
stated a war on nature—exploiting the natural resources, bringing rivers under his control.

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 Consequently nature is also reacting with droughts, changed climatic patterns, floods etc. All
this could put survival of man on earth in danger. For your school magazine write an article
in 150-200 words on the topic Respect Nature—Live Safe.

7. Elections are a part and parcel of democracy. Many, especially the youth, do not show much
interested when it is election time and avoid casting their vote. Write a speech in 150-200
words on the topic Caste you vote urging the youth to actively participate in elections. (10)

OR

Your are Tarun/Taruna of Shivaji House of your school. Your School is organizing an Inter
House Debate Competition and the topic of the debate is: Reality Shows: A Boon for Children.
You feel that children participation in reality shows is another form of child labour and
causes harm to participating children. You decide to participate in the debate and oppose the
motion. Draft your debate in not more than 200 words.

SECTION-C (40 marks)

LITERATURE AND LONG-READING TEXT

8. Read the stanza given below and answer the questions the follow: 1x4=4 marks

Aunt Jennifer s fingers flutering throught her wood

Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.

The massive weight of Uncle s wedding band

Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer s hand

(a) The Uncle s wedding band is described as being heavy. Why? 1

(b) Why do Aunt s hands flutter through her wool? 1
(c) What is Aunt Jennifer doing? 1
(d) Name the poem and poet. 1
OR

What I want should not be confused

With total inactivity

Life is what it is about

I want no truck with death.

(a) What does the narrator want? 1

(b) Explain : Life is what is a about 1

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 (c) Mention one act on the part of narrator that support that he want no association with
death. 1
(d) Who could confuse narrator s suggestion with total inactivity? 1
9. Answer any four of the following in 50-60 words each: 3 x 4 ==12
a) What does the poet with for the slum children?
b) Why was the peddler in story The Rattrap surprised when he knocked at door of the old
crofter s cottage?
c) Why did the big bully throw Douglas into the pool?
d) What indignities did Zitkala-so suffer after she was separated from her mother?
e) Why is Mukesh s dream of becoming a motor mechanic significant?
10. What conflict of duties does Dr. Sadao face? How does he resolve it? (120-150 words) 6

OR

How did the misadventure in YMCA pool affect Douglas? What efforts did he make to
conquer his childhood fear?

11. Where peasants are so crushed and fear stricken law courts are useless, the real relief for
them is to be free from fear. -Gandhi

Take clue from Gandhiji s statement and write an article in 120-150 words on Fear is Man s
worst enemy. 6 Marks

12. Give a character sketch of Dunstan cars. (120-150 words ) 6 Marks

OR

Give Character-sketch of Janny Hall, wife of Mr. Hall. (120-150)

13 The novel Silas Marner shows that true happiness does not lie in material things. Do you
agree? Give reasons for your answer. (120-150) 6 marks

Or

What chaos followed when the Invisible Man lost his temper?

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